Adesuwa Onyenokwe, the Nigerian broadcaster and publisher, has made her foray into Nollywood with the movie titled ‘Chatroom.’
The publisher of Today’s Woman magazine was enlisted as the associate producer of the movie, which premiered in Lagos on Sunday.
The 98-minute film, produced and directed by Peju Fadirepo-Ibekwe and Chike Ibekwe respectively, tells the dark but hopeful story of a rape survivor named Ebiere and how she navigates her cold misery until she wrestles strength from her struggle.
The movie features popular names like Odunlade Adekola, Omawumi Megbele, Tony Umez, Nengi Adoki, and Bowoto Jephthah Akpororo.
Speaking to TheCable Lifestyle at the premiere, Onyenokwe said the movie was shot four years ago, yet the message is still relevant today.
She also referenced the death of Osinachi Nwachukwu, the gospel singer, after allegedly being a victim of domestic violence.
The broadcaster said stories like ‘Chatroom’ will inspire members of the public going through abuse to speak up.
“The story inspired my participation in the production of the movie. You know, when you’ve always wanted to do a story, and someone comes to you with a story, I don’t know the first thing about what it takes to do a movie in Nigeria today. For me, it was the desire to be part of telling a story that would be different from the regular one. That’ll allow you to enjoy yourself and will allow you to take away a message,” she said.
“This movie was shot four years ago. But it’s just coming now, and it’s coming now, and yet the story is still relevant. Everybody heard what had happened in the last week when a popular gospel artiste lost her life because she kept silent. We are talking about a deep story, but we are sugar-coating it.”
On her part, Fadirepo-Ibekwe said a true-life story inspired the movie with the intent to give hope to rape survivors and the misery of their abuse.
“The project started a few years ago and was inspired by the true-life story of someone who is still alive. More often than not, people that have these experiences don’t always have happy endings,” she said.
“We wanted to create a story that would give people hope, to let us know that things happen, but we don’t have to wallow in the mud. And that was the beginning of Chatroom.”
The movie is available for streaming at www.afrocinema.tv.
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